Panera Bread's Pink Ribbon Bagel® Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Panera Bread's signature Pink Ribbon Bagel returns this October for its tenth year to help support the fight against breast cancer.  The Pink Ribbon Bagel will be sold in participating Southern California area bakery-cafes during the month of October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Participating local bakery-cafes will donate a portion of the proceeds from each Pink Ribbon Bagel sold to a variety of cancer causes throughout the country.  

The Panera Pink Ribbon Bagel is baked fresh daily from fresh dough by artisan bakers in each participating bakery-cafe.  The bagel features cherry chips, dried cherries and cranberries, vanilla, honey and brown sugar.  This unique bakery item follows the tradition of 'thinking pink' during the month of October in the quest to help eradicate breast cancer disease.  Sue Stees, one of Panera Bread's first franchisees and a breast cancer survivor, developed the idea for the Pink Ribbon Bagel in 2001 as a way to help support the cause.  

Five to 25 cents of every $1.29* Pink Ribbon Bagel sold in the 50 Panera Bread locations in Southern California will donate proceeds to support breast cancer awareness and research. Proceeds will be granted to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® affiliates of Los Angeles County, Orange County and Inland Empire, the Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance and the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

"Panera Bread is devoted to serving the members of our local community, many of whom have had their lives touched by breast cancer," said Tony Rolland, joint venture partner, Panera Bread. "Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance and Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation have been leading champions of the cause for many years and we are honored to join them in the fight."

Panera Bread company-owned and franchise-operated bakery-cafes also support charitable causes through its Operation Dough-Nation® program. Since it was founded in 1992 to formalize Panera's commitment to community involvement, Operation Dough-Nation has contributed both monetary and bread donations through its Community Breadbox™ and Day-End Dough-Nation™ programs to local food pantries, hunger relief agencies and other community organizations.  In 2009, Panera Bread bakery-cafes collectively donated a retail value of more than $50 million of bread and baked goods to charitable organizations helping to feed the hungry in our local communities.

*Note: Prices may vary slightly by bakery-cafe.

About Panera Bread

Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,399 bakery-cafes as of June 29, 2010 under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.®, and Paradise Bakery & Cafe® names. Our bakery cafes are principally located in suburban, strip mall and regional mall locations. We feature high quality, reasonably priced food in a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment. With our identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, we are committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Nearly all of our bakery-cafes have a menu highlighted by antibiotic free chicken, whole grain bread, and select organic and all-natural 7 ingredients, with zero grams of artificial trans fat per serving, which provide flavorful, wholesome offerings. Our menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites complemented by new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighborhoods across this country and in Ontario, Canada, our customers enjoy our warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free internet access. Our bakery-cafes routinely donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on the Company's website, http://www.panerabread.com.

SOURCE Panera Bread